Can’t get enough of fantastic worlds all about fairies, elves and magic? Then we have nine suggestions for you that will bring a good dose of magic into your life.
Sometimes everyday life is gray and dull and life doesn’t go the way we want it to. In such moments we would like to escape from reality and dive into a completely different world. What better way to do that than with a fantastic story? We’ve put together the best novels and book series about magical creatures like elves and dragons – and we’ve included the odd apocalyptic dystopia as well. Here are our favorite fantasy novels that enchant us in everyday life.
These 9 fantasy books take us to other worlds
1. “The Kingdom of the Seven Courts” by Sarah J. Maas
The “The Kingdom of the Seven Courts“series consists of four novels and an intermediate volume between the third and fourth book. According to the author Sarah J. Maas, further volumes are to follow. The first parts are about the young Feye, who tries to cure her sick Sustaining father and her two sisters by hunting in the woods, she ends up against her will in the world of the fae, where she finds herself in the midst of a centuries-old political conflict between the rulers of the various courts.The series follows Feye on her journey through the various courts with their high lords and ladies, first to the court of spring, later to the court of night.
The always surprising twists of this fantasy series, the clever and versatile world and the romantic, but anything but cheesy love story between Feye and her high lord are perfect to escape the gray everyday life.
2. “The Legends of Grisha” by Leigh Bardugo
“The Legends of Grisha” (English title: “Grishaverse”) is a trilogy by the American writer Leigh Bardugo. The First Novel”Golden Flames” was released on June 5, 2012. The trilogy centers on Alina Starkov. She grows up in an orphanage and meets her best friend Malyen Oretsev (nicknamed Mal) there. The story takes place in Ravka, a Russian-inspired empire. The special alludes to Alina: An unexpected power slumbers inside her – she is the sun warrior. She didn’t know all along that she was a Grisha. Grisha are people with very special abilities, they can manipulate the elements. However, Alina is the only one who has light Alone, she could destroy the Shadow Corridor, a wasteland shrouded in darkness.
The exciting thing about the legends of the Grisha is that it is based on a Russian or generally more Eastern setting. You don’t find that very often, especially in fantasy books. There are three books in total: “Golden Flames“, “Icy Waves” and “Flaming Wings“. However, the writer has not only settled this series in the Grishaverse, the stories about the gang of crows also take place partly in Ravka and surrounding countries (“The Song of the Crows” and “The Gold of the Crows”). In a newer series Bardugo revisits the world of Grisha and unifies the world surrounding characters from both stories, centered on Nikolai Lantsov, the (new) King of Ravka.
Netflix released the second season of Shadow and Bone less than a week ago. It is the story of the sun warrior and the gang of crows combined.
3. “The Assassination” by Stephen King
Stephen King is one of the great masters of the fantasy genre. In his thriller “The stop” he gets involved in the thought experiment of traveling through time, which makes it possible to prevent the deadly attack on John F. Kennedy. At the beginning of the story, the teacher Jake Epping accidentally discovers a way to travel through time. The goal is relative It quickly becomes clear that he wants to put Kennedy’s alleged assassin out of action before he can kill the US President on November 22, 1963. The problem: The past resists changes in history.
In typical Stephen King style, this fantasy thriller is packed with action – while managing to raise smart questions. Should we change past mistakes given the opportunity to do so? Or should we make the best of the situation we find?
4. “Mortal Engines” by Philip Reeves
The series “Mortal Engines – War of the Cities” by Philip Reeves is a bit reminiscent of steampunk. The books are set in a post-apocalyptic universe in which cities no longer remain in one place, but wander around the earth’s plates using crude technology. Towering cities like London rise up into the air like mountains. The focus The story features Tom and Hester, a girl who almost always wears a red kerchief over her face. At the beginning of the first book, “War of the Cities,” Hester tries to kill London’s Chief Historian, Thaddeus Valentine, and Tom stops her .But instead of thanking Tom, Valentine pushes them both off the cliff, off the beaten track of London and at the mercy of the Great Hunting Grounds, encountering slavers, pirates and being pursued by a half-human, half-robot bounty hunter.
One of the great things about this series is that you never know what’s going to happen next. In a universe so different from reality, little can be predicted. And that is what makes these books so appealing. A dystopia after a devastating war – a world so different but thrillingly rebuilt. The books follow: “Chase through the ice“, “The Green Storm” and “The Lost City“.
5. “The Sides of the World” by Kai Meyer
With the trilogy “The sides of the world” Kai Meyer has created a fantasy series that couldn’t be more bubbling with love for the written word. It’s about Furia Salamandra Faerfax. She is desperately looking for her soul book, the one that is supposed to give her very special powers. She very much hopes that it is one of her favorite books, but nothing has happened so far. Then her brother is kidnapped and Furia has to fight for his life. On her way she meets companions like the thief Cat and the rebel Finnian. Together they go to war – against the rulers of bibliomantics and the de-writing of books.
Putting the power of books at the center of a whole series is just fantastic. Meyer’s stories bubble up with ideas and adventurous characters from a fantastic world. The man from Lübeck definitely deserves a permanent place on the bookshelf – because this is definitely not his only exciting book series.
6. “A Song of Ice and Fire” (“Game of Thrones”) by George RR Martin
Most people know the epic HBO series “Game of Thrones” – it is based on the five-part book series by George RR Martin of the same name. In German is “The Song of Ice and Fire” Even ten volumes strong. The sixth and seventh parts of the saga are eagerly awaited by die-hard fans of the series, but after several delays, George RR Martin is currently no longer giving any updates on the planned release date.
If you haven’t read the existing books in the series yet, that will keep you busy for a while. Much of the action takes place in Westeros, a world where the seasons can last for decades. At the beginning of the first novel we are in autumn, winter is just around the corner. The plot consists of various political power struggles between the various noble houses and their struggle for the throne of the Seven Kingdoms. At the same time, there is a far greater threat from the north of the empire, which the warring factions can only stop together.
The world in which the saga “A Song of Ice and Fire” takes place is complex, there are countless characters. But it’s worth staying tuned in, as the common thread runs through the grand narrative and each and every character is layered and intriguing.
7. “Destiny” by Veronica Roth
“The determination” is a trilogy by American writer Veronica Roth. It is set in a post-apocalyptic Chicago where the citizens are divided into five factions. Each faction symbolizes a specific virtue of humanity. There are the Altruan (the selfless, government), who Ferox (the fearless, police and military), the Ken (the scholars, scientists and IT), the Candor (the outspoken, judiciary) and the Amite (the kind and peaceable, agriculture and administration) And then there are the non-attached. On a certain day of the year, all 16-year-olds have to take a test that clearly assigns them to their factions. People like the protagonist Beatrice Prior cannot be clearly assigned. In order not to attract attention, Beatrice chooses Ferox. Over time, she realizes that that she is not alone, but it remains dangerous.
In “The determination” a world is created in which people are only supposed to have one virtue, exactly the opposite of what we are today – complex, unpredictable: just human. This dystopia shows very clearly what happens to people who don’t fit into the grid, and how quickly manipulation can succeed if you always follow the rules. A very exciting view of society with a nice love story. The order of the books: “The determination“, “Destiny – Deadly Truth” and “The Determination – Final Decision“. There is an extra novel “Destiny – Four’s Story“, which is about the supporting character and his story.
8. “Elven Crown” by Holly Black
The three-part “elven crown” series by Holly Black is set in the world of elves that exists alongside our real world. The protagonist Jude was abducted from the human world with her two sisters as a child and has been living at the court of the elf king ever since. As a mortal, the elves make it anything but easy for her – especially Prince Cardan, the clever but cruel youngest son of the king. Jude’s declared goal: to expand her power and finally be recognized by the elves as an equal.
The “Elven Crown” world is similar in many aspects to the universe in “The Realm of the Seven Courts”. And the starting position of the main characters also shows parallels. Both stories are written in an exciting and captivating way and convince with surprising twists and complex characters.
9. “The Mirror Traveler” by Christelle Dabos
The four-part fantasy series “The Mirror Traveler” by the French author Christelle Dabos is set in a post-apocalyptic world whose parts have broken into so-called arks. The reserved, very lovable, but also somewhat quirky protagonist Ophelia lives on Anima, one of these arks. She prefers to hide behind her thick glasses and a scarf that reaches down to her feet. Her special gift: she can read objects by the touch of her hands and travel through mirrors. On Anima, she devotedly takes care of the heritage of her ancestors until one day her destiny turns 180 degrees. Ophelia is to move to the icy Ark of the Pole and marry a nobleman named Thorn. An unknown, far away from her family. But why was she chosen? Ophelia has no idea what deadly intrigues await her on her journey and what role she will play it herself.
With Ophelia, Christelle Dabos has created an anti-heroine who is nevertheless so lovable that she captivates the reader. And not only that, together with Ophelia she takes us into a specially created universe full of entanglements, intrigues and family clans that are not easy to escape from and that are so detailed that you should take the time you deserve for this series of books, which the claim four tomes.